Retractable ceiling ladder



Filea March 25, 1955 n F. B. MANIERRE 2,765,970

RETRACTABLE CEILING LADDER 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 I N VENTOR EM mi 6 rre ATTORNEY5 Oct. 9, 1956 F. B. MANIERRE RETRACTABLE CEILING LADDER 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 25, 1955 INVENTOR a n 56 rre WAS m INK ATTORNEYE Oct. 9, 1956 Filed March 25, 1955 F. B. MANIERRE RETRACTABLE CEILING LADDER 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 1N VENTOR zlerre A'ITORNEY5 Oct. 9, 1956 F. B. MANIERRE RETRACTABLE CEILING LADDER 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed March 25 1955 //4gl A? INVENTOR z'erre EBJMZan' ATTORN RETRACTABLE CEILING LADDER Francis B. Manierre, Spring Hill, Ala. Application March 25, 1955, Serial N 0. 496,859 4 Claims. (Cl. 228-50) This invention relates to ladders, and more specifically, the invention pertains to retractable ceiling ladders.

One of the primary objects of this invention is to provide a retractable ceiling ladder wherein all of the operating mechanism therefor is completely enclosed when the ladder is in its extended position.

Another object of this invention is to provide a housing for the operating mechanism to prevent personal injury in the event a part thereof should break.

A further object of this invention is to provide resilient means as the prime mover of the operating mechanism, the means being under a minimum of tension when the ladder is moved to its retracted position.

A still further object of this invention is to provide resilient means as the operating mechanism of a retractable ceiling ladder, the means comprising elements which may be obtained on the open market.

This invention contemplates as a further object the provision of a housing for the operating mechanism having a portion thereof which forms a landing platform when the ladder is in its extended position.

A further object of this invention is to provide a device of the type described which will require no service adjustments.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide a retractable ceiling ladder with stair length adjusting means relative to ceiling heights.

This invention also provides positive control means which are operable to prevent the slipping or travelling of the ladder when the same is in its extended position.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a retractable ceiling ladder which is inexpensive to manufacture, non-complex in construction and assembly, and inexpensive to maintain.

Other and further objects and advantages of the present invention will become more obvious from a consideration of the following specification when read in conjunction with the annexed drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the retractable ceiling ladder, the same being illustrated as being lowered to its extended position.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the ladder in its extended position, parts thereof being broken away to illustrate the assembly details.

Figure 3 is a medial longitudinal cross-sectional view of the ladder shown in Figure 2.

Figure 4 is an enlarged partial longitudinal crosssectional view illustrating the ladder in its partially retracted position.

Figure 5 is an enlarged detail cross-sectional view, partially in elevation, taken on the line 55 of Figure 4, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 6 is an enlarged detail cross-sectional View taken on the vertical plane of line 6-6 of Figure 4, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 7 is an enlarged detail cross-sectional view taken on the vertical plane of line 7-7 of Figure 4, looking in the direction of the arrows.

rates Patent Fig. 8 is an enlarged detail cross-sectional view, partly in elevation, taken on the line 88 of Figure 3, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 9 is an enlarged detail cross-sectional view of the travelling cross-shaft together with its associated spacer members and rollers.

Figure 10 is a top plan view of the housing per se, the closure member having been omitted therefrom.

Figure 11 is an enlarged fragmentary top plan view of the stair well.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings, reference numeral 10 designates, in general, a ceiling ladder constructed in accordance with the teachings of this invention. The ladder 10 is seen to comprise a substantially hollow rectangular housing having a bottom wall 12 to which is secured a pair of oppositely disposed upright side walls 14, 16, an end wall 18, and a header 20 oppositely disposed relative thereto (see Figure 10).

Elongated, outwardly turned, inverted L-shaped angle members 22, 24 are secured to each of the side walls 14, 16 adjacent their respective upper ends and extend longitudinally thereof. A pair of hinge members 26, 28 pivotally connect one end of an elongated substantially rectangular closure member 30 to the upper end of the end wall 18. Substantially triangular abutment members 32, 34 are secured to each of the side walls 14, 16, respectively, adjacent the header 20 with the hypotenuse of each resting on the bottom wall 12. The abutments 32, 34 are arcuately curved at 36, 38 to form a rounded corner at the junction of their respective sides 40, 42, and 44, 46. The header 20 is formed with a recess at each end thereof which have fixedly secured therein a substantially U- shaped bracket 48, 50, the arms of which rotatably support the pairs of rollers 52 and 54, respectively.

A pair of oppositely disposed, spaced, confronting, and aligned axles 56, 58 project inwardly toward each other from the side walls 14, 16. Collars 60, 62 having bosses '64, 66, respectively, are pivotally mounted on the axles 56, 58, and one of the ends of a pair of elongated cylindrical rods 68, 70 are fixedly connected with the bosses. The other ends of the rods 68,70 are rigidly secured within collars 72 (only one being shown, see Figure 4) having bifurcated outer ends each being adapted to receive and rotatably support a roller '73 between their respective pairs of arms. The rollers 73, as will be described in detail below, engage against one side of the closure member 38.

A pair of elongated cylindrical sleeves 74, 76 (see Figure 5) having radially extending hollow bosses '78, 80 are fixedly mounted on the rods 68, 70 by set screws 71, and the bosses 78, 80 are adapted to receive and retain therein the opposite ends of a spacer rod 82. The bosses 78, 80 fixedly receive one end of a pair of elongated cylindrical levers 84, 86, respectively, having caps 88, fixedly mounted on their respective other ends. integrally formed or otherwise secured to the caps 88, '90 are looped elements 92, 94 which are pivotally carried on a crossshaft 96 between a pair of cylindrical spacer sleeves 98, 100 disposed adjacent opposite ends of the cross-shaft 96 (see Figure 9).

An L-shaped angle member 102 (see Figures 4 and 10) having a plurality of longitudinally spaced apertures 184 extends transversely of the housing and is fixedly secured to the end wall 18 adjacent the lower edge thereof. One end of a plurality of tension springs 106 are fixedly anchored within the apertures 104 and their respective other ends are strung on the cross-shaft 96 between the spacer sleeves 108.

Rollers 110, 112 are rotatably mounted on opposite ends, respectively, of the cross-shaft 96 and are positioned adjacent the longitudinally extending side walls 14, 16.

A pair of bifurcated brackets 114 have the arms 116, 118 thereof fixedly secured to the marginal edge of the free end of the closure member 30, and the yokes thereof terminate in bearings 122 adapted to receive stub axles 124 which project from hubs 126, the latter extending transversely through the upper ends of a pair of elongated spaced and substantially parallel stringers 128. The hubs 126 are integrally formed with flanges 130 which are secured to the confronting inner sides of the stringers 128 by conventional means 132.

Risers 134 extend between and are fixedly secured to the stringers 128 at regularly spaced longitudinally extending intervals.

The lowermost edges of the stringers 128 ride on the rollers 52, 54 as the ladder is raised or lowered, and the lower end portions thereof are provided with fixedly secured L-shaped angle guide rails or flanges 136 which are engaged by guide rollers 138 mounted on spindles 140 supported on one end of brackets 142 having their respective other ends mounted by conventional means on one side of a door 144 for the ladder well, designated, in general, by reference numeral 146.

The upper end of the door 144 is hingedly secured at 148 to an end frame member 150 which is fixedly secured to an intermediate header 152 having a recess 154 formed in the upper end thereof. The ladder well 146 is substantially rectangular in configuration and includes the end frame member 150, an oppositely disposed end frame member 155, and a pair of oppositely disposed side frame members 156, 157.

A pair of oppositely disposed end trim members 158, are secured to the end frame members 159, 155, and side trim members 162, 164 are rigidly mounted on the side frame members 158, 160, 156, 157, respectively. The trim members are adapted to engage the marginal sides of the door 144 to limit its upward movement when the ladder is in its fully retracted position.

One end of an operating cord 166 is secured to an eye bolt 168 affixed to the other end of the door 144.

As is seen in Figures 3 and 4, the housing is mounted in the recess 154 of the intermediate header 152 at one of its ends and the other end of the housing is supported in a similar recess formed in a second spaced and substantially parallel intermediate header 170. Ceiling joists 174 extend between and are secured to the headers 152 and 170, and the latter have their respective ends secured to the doubled joists 171.

Ioists 172 and other joists 176 support the beams 174 and ceiling 178. Flooring 179 may be laid, if desired, over the joists and beams, with the angle members engaging over the adjacent marginal sides thereof as seen in Figure 5.

If desired, an inverted substantially U-shaped hand rail 180 may be secured by brackets 182 to one or both sides of the side frame members 156, 157.

In operation, and assuming that the ladder is in its lowered extended position as is illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3, it will be recognized that the springs 106 are constantly tending to urge the cross-shaft 96 for movement over the abutments 34, and in so acting, exert a force on the levers 84, 86, the force being, in turn, transmitted to the spacer rod 82 which, in turn, transmit the same force to the rods 68, 70. The spacer rod 82 being connected at its opposite ends to the rods 68, 70 constantly tends to force the rollers 73 into engagement with the closure member 30 whereby the same is constantly urged for pivotal movement upwardly and to the left, as indicated by the arrow in Figure 1. However, the weight of the extended ladder is suiticient to overcome this force, and consequently, the ladder will remain in its fixed lowermost position.

Now assuming that it is desired to elevate the ladder, the

operator pivots the ladder in a counter-clockwise direction to raise the lower end thereof above the fioor or other supporting surface and at the same time pushes gently upwardly. Only slight force is required to assist the spring tension to cause the ladder to move upwardly, the lower edges of the stringers 128 riding smoothly on the rollers 52. As the cross-shaft 96 moves from the position shown in Figure 3, the cross-shaft rides over the abutments 34 and moves longitudinally, to the left, as viewed in Figure 4, gradually relieving the tension on the springs 106 until the ladder has been completely retracted.

During this upward movement of the ladder, the lateral displacement thereof is prevented by the guide rollers 138 which ride on the guide rail 136 mounted on the lower ends of the stringers 128.

With the ladder in its fully retracted position, the door 144 is pivoted upwardly on the hinge 148 until the marginal edges thereof abut against the trim pieces 158, 160, 162, 164.

To extend the ladder, it is only necessary that the operator grasp and pull on the cord 166 which will cause the door 144 to pivot downwardly in a clockwise direction and carry simultaneously therewith the ladder to move the same to its fully extended position, as shown in Figures 1 and 3.

Having described and illustrated one embodiment of this invention in detail, it will be understood that the same is ofiered merely by way of example, and that the invention is to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A retractable ladder comprising an elongated substantially rectangular housing having opposed pairs of side and end walls, a bottom wall and a closure member for the upper end of said housing, means pivotally connecting one end of said closure member with one of said end walls, a pair of rods having one of their ends pivotally connected on said side walls, respectively, a pair of levers having one of their respective ends pivotally mounted on said rods, a cross-shaft disposed within said housing and having its ends secured to the other ends of said levers, resilient means connected with said housing and said cross-shaft, said resilient means constantly tending to urge said closure member for pivotal movement into its open position, a ladder having one of its ends pivotally connected with an end of said closure member oppositely disposed with respect to said one end thereof, means supporting said housing in elevated position and having a ladder well formed therein, and the other end of said ladder being movable upwardly and downwardly through said well.

2. A retractable ladder as defined in claim 1, and a closure member for said well, means pivotally connecting said last named closure member on said support means, and means connecting said other end of said ladder with said last named closure member.

3. A retractable ladder as defined in claim 2, and roller bearing means supporting said ladder intermediate the ends thereof.

4. A retractable ladder as defined in claim 3, and guide means for said ladder.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,621,539 Hemingway Mar. 22, 1927 2,050,593 Traut Aug. 11, 1936 2,095,392 Marschke Oct. 12, 1937 2,582,622 Craig Ian. 15, 1952 

